Dassault Rafale is the first omnirole combat aircraft by design. It has the capability to carry out different complex combat assignments during the same sortie, be it ground attack, beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air combat or interceptions.

A scion of the Mirage family the Rafale from Dassault Aviation of France is the latest and the most potent twin-engine combat platform to burst on the military aviation scene at the dawn of the 21st century.

Variants

A technological marvel, the Rafale is available in three distinct variants—single-seat Rafale C for land-based combat operations, single-seat Rafale M for carrier operations and the twoseat Rafale B for land-based combat operations. The three variants share a common airframe and weapon/mission system. The differences between the naval and land versions is only in respect of the undercarriage and the arresting hook fitted at the rear of the fuselage. The Rafale has balanced performance between subsonic and supersonic regimes, either in heavy or lighter air-to-air combat configurations. Moreover, ‘terrain following’ modes allow the Rafale to automatically fly unobserved at very low altitudes in all-weather conditions, optimising its survivability in a high threat environment. The twin-engine configuration also enhances survivability significantly on long-range missions over inhospitable terrain, jungle, mountains, deserts and oceans. Additionally, it provides a high degree of safety against bird strike while operating at ultra low altitude.

Omnirole Capability

As per Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is the first omnirole combat aircraft by design. It has the capability to carry out different complex combat assignments during the same sortie, be it ground attack, beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air combat or interceptions. Its competitors classify their aircraft as ‘multi-role’ or ‘swing-role’. Technologically, the omnirole concept puts the Rafale in a class of its own with cohesive integration of systems on board, catering to diverse mission requirements as highlighted during the operations in Libya. Dassault introduced the ‘omnirole’ capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with the ‘F2-standard’ in the French Air Force and in the French Navy in 2006. Dassault Aviation’s Executive Chairman, Charles Edelstenne said, “Our fighter is employing its omnirole capabilities in this theatre, enabling it to carry out air defence, deep strike, close air support, anti-ship, reconnaissance and buddy-refuelling missions—all from distant land bases or aircraft carriers in missions lasting up to seven hours.”

Mission Capability—Range and Firepower

The Rafale has state-of-the-art weapon/mission system and has outstanding load-carrying capability. Designed as a compact high-tech fighter capable of carrying a huge external load of fuel tanks, bombs and missiles, it can carry over 15,000 kg of fuel and weapon load, quite an accomplishment for an aircraft weighing less than 10 tonnes when empty. The aircraft is capable of carrying a wide variety of weapons including precision guided weapons with high stand-off ranges in varying combinations. At its maximum permissible all up weight, the Rafale can take off at two and a half times its empty weight—more than any other fighter in its class. Besides it can carry weapons and pods together along with external fuel tanks giving it the combined benefit of both extended mission range and maximum fire power. This capability also accords the platform unrivalled flexibility in mission planning and execution.

Currently, the aircraft has been cleared to operate the following weapons:

• MICA, air-to-air interception, combat and self-defence BVR missiles, in their IR (heat-seeking) and EM (active radar homing) versions.
• AASM stand-off, modular and propelled, air-to-ground precision guided weapons with inertial/GPS and inertial/GPS/infrared guidance kits, or with the future inertial/GPS/laser guidance variant.
• SCALP long-range stand-off missiles.
• Exocet anti-ship missiles.
• Laser-guided bombs.
• Conventional air-to-ground ordnance.
• Nexter 30 M 791 high-power 30mm gun carried internally and capable of firing 2,500 rounds per minute.
• The upcoming Meteor extreme long-range air-to-air missile.
• Customer-selected weapons.